Towing hitch



A. J. BOlVlN TOWING HITCH Jafi. s, 1952 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed May 4,1948 INVENTOR. AL 8527 J 50/ w/v.

J 8, 1952 A. J. BblVlN 2,581,833

TOWING HITCH Filed May 4, 1948 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 I INVENTOR. (945527 a:50/ w/v.

Patented Jan. 8, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE r in. 2,581,833

, TOWING m'ron I "Albert J Boivln, Rumford, Maine Application May 4,1948, Serial No. 24,912 g 12 Claims. (Cl. 28033.44)

I This invention relates to a towing hitch and moreparticularly to aswivel mounted towing hitch of the jaw type. V A principal object ofthis invention is to provide a towing hitch which is of simple, sturdyand compact construction and one which may be easily and quickly mountedin operable tow-' ing position and easily and quickly demountable from atowing vehicle and. may be easily and quickly engaged with ordisengagedfr'om a tow, such,u f or instance, as a power pole or thelike, or the draw bar orcoupling bar of a 'trailer or other towablestructure. v n

A further object of this inventionis to provide a. simple 'gand sturdyswivel mounting' for the towing hitch and provided with meansholding thehitch in swivel mounted position and locked against becoming dismountedinadvertently due ,to shocks, strains and vibrations to whichit may besubjected. V Another object of this invention is to provide simple,sturdy and effective means whereby the opposing jaws of a hitch may be,easily and quickly engaged, and drawn together to firmly and securelyclamp with the tow, and holdthe jaws against loosening their engagementwith the tow; and whereby, when in said tow clamping engagement, thejaws may be easily and quickly freed to allow the jaws to be separatedto release the tow. v I I Other objects of this invention will be inpart obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

. In accordance with this invention the towing hitch includes astationary jaw and a movable jaw pivoted to the stationary jaw so as tobe swingable toward the stationary jaw to clamp a ;pole.or other towelement, or the like, between them and swingable away from thestationary jaw to release the tow element from the hitch. A jawclosingdevice is provided which is en- ,gagable with and disengagable fromthe'mov- :able jaw and, when engaged with the jaw, is operable to forcethe movable jaw toward; the

. stationary jaw to cause the tow element'to' be clamped firmly betweenthe two jaws, and looking means are provided for preventing the law-closing means from becoming loosened by vibrations, strains and shocks,said locking means, however, being easily and quickly manuallyadjjustable to permit the jaw closing means to be easily and quicklyloosened from and detached ,from the stationary jaw to permit the jawsto be openedand the tow piece to be released from the .hitch.-. A simpleswivel mounting is also proevidedion the hitchand means are provided for2 l l positively preventing the swivel mounting from becoming loosenedand displaced.

V The invention accordingly consists in the fea-' tures of construction,combinations of elements and arrangement of parts which will be pointedout hereinafter and the scope of the application of which will be setforth in the claims that follow.

In order that a clearer understanding of this invention may be had,attention is hereby directed to, the accompanying drawings illustratingone possible embodiment of this invention and in which: I I

Figure 1 is a perspective viewof the rear end of a towing vehicle havingmounted thereon a towing hitch embodying this invention and engaging apole which has its rear end supported on a trailer;

Figure 2 is aside view of the towing hitch in mounted position, aportion of the vehicle iioor on which the hitch is mounted being shownin section;

Figure 3 is afront view of the same;

Figure 4 is a sectional view of a fragment of the hitch and is taken onthe line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Figure 5 is a top view of the mounted hitch and shows the end portion ofthe pole engaged thereby and showing in dash lines the hitch and poleportion swung to different positions; and

Figure 6 is a side view of the hitch unmounted, showing the jaw closingdevice disconnected from the'jaws and the jaws in relatively openposition. V

Similar reference" characters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral figures of the drawmgs.

Referring to the drawings the hitch includes a base member [0, which maybe a plate of sheet metal, and a stationary jaw member, which maycomprise a pair of spaced parallel sheet metal plates H and I2,extending upwardly from the base. These jaw plates have aligned tow enaing areas l3 and I4 and prongs l5 and I6 projecting from these surfacesand adapted to bite into a wooden tow piece when seated on these jawsurfaces l3 and M.

A movable jaw which may be in the form of a metal plate I! is pivotedadjacent its lower rear corner to and between the stationary jaw platesII and i2 adjacent their upper rear corners by means of a pin l8permitting jaw plate IT to be swung downwardly between the plates II andI2, and upwardly therefrom, plate 11 having a tow engaging portion l9similar to the tow engaging portions 13 and 14, of the plates the boltwhen desired.

3 H and I2 and presented toward them and adapted to engage from above atow element seated in the portions [3 and M of the plates II and i2,this portion I9 of plate I! having a tow engaging prong 20 similar tothe prongs l and iii of the stationary jaw parts II and [2.

The movable jaw I1 is provided at its upper forward corner with aformation consisting of projecting elements *2! which present :an opennotch between them and each iihaving an cupwardly presented shoulder 22at its outer end, the notch being adapted to receive the threaded upperend of a bolt 23 which, at its lower end, is pivoted in a, bracket 24which is fixed onthe base plate It in front of the front ends iof the 1:

' projections2l tofo'rce the movable j'aw plates f1 downwardly against atow ,piece disposed .between the jaws and thus "to c'lamp the "tow piecebetween 'the "stationary and movable jaw .members N ut' 26 ispreferablyprovided with a handle '21 which is fixed to thenutand'whereby the nut may be turned easily and uickly in eitherdirectionon the'bolt 23. 'Handle'fl is provided with p a formation 18which presents an aperture' in which is SWing'ingly disposed anU-s'haped element'29 which is adaptedfwhen the "bolt "is in the notch,between the projections"'2'l and the hanjdleli'l is parallel withand'over jaw plate H, to straddle the top of ,jaw plate 11 and thusprevent turning of the handle and "the nut 25 on the bolt 23 and thusloosening of thefnut 25 is prevented, until the U -shaped member 29 islifted out of straddling p'osition'withrespect tothe jawvplate I1. r I

' xtending from the undersur'iace"ofbase plate l0 'at'fitsicente'risia.b'olt3lland this bolt is provided with a nut 31 'Iand aremovable element which, '{when :in place, prevents the nut 31 frombecoming detachedifromthe bolt 39. "This locke ing element may .comprisea pin having when; 32 with a head '33 at one end "and a shank extension34 at the -other end which is swingably pivoted to the'end of "the mainshank :portion 32; "The bolt is provided with 'a"suita'ble"perforationthrough which the shank extension 34 may be slid and the shank ,portion32extended whereupon the shaft'extension 34 will "fall "into verticalpositionbyigravity and thus prevent the pin from being jarred out of'thebolt and "the pm will prevent the nut 3|from becoming unscrewed from thebolt. .Atfthe same time the locking .pin is easily'and quickly removablefrom the bolt to permit'th'e nut 3| to *be taken off the bolt and thetowing hitchjdismounted from the towing vehicle; and obviouslyithe'lo'cking pin may be'quickly' andeasilyput inyplace in Thehitchmay'be easily and .iquicklymounte'd on a supporting member such,'for instance, as the --lloor '35 or other supporting element ofjtavehicle V by merelyextending'theb'oltf3fi through a suitable holeprovided therefor "in the "support '.35', screwing"the nut on the fbolt"and up toward ing the locking pin through the bolt beneath the nut 3|.The towing hitch will thus be swivel mounted on the support 35.Preferably, and particularly if the support 35 is wood, a fiat piece ofsheet'metal 36 is secured to the top'of the support 35 so that the baseplate I0 of the hitch will rest thereon and another flat metal plate 31is secured to the underside of the support-35 afOl' the .;nut 31 toengagelagainst when screwed on the bolt gBlates336 and 31 may be securedto support 35 by means of screws by welding or the like. The plates 36and 31 *are pr ovided with suitable aligned holes for the vbolt 3 0 toextend through.

Assuming'that the towing hitch is not mounted and i-t is-'desired-to usethe hitch on a vehicle which has previously been provided with asuitable h'oleto receive the bolt 30. to mount the hitch inplace it ismerely necessary to extend the bolt 30 "through the *hdle providedtherefor and to screw the nut 3 I on the bolt and insert the lockingpin. Assuming then that it is-1desired to "engage something such as, for"instance. pole "4,0 with the hitch in towing engagement therewith, itis only necessary to evving Jthe movable -jaw -plate i I -'l away f'romthe stationary jaw plates "l l and :42 -to permit :theend 'o'f the poleto"-be seated-on the pole engaging surfaces 1 3 and "1 4*ofthestationary j aw plates -and then swing the movable "jaw plate :11upon the pole, "swing the 'bolt 23 into the nciinih -between theprojections 2|, allow th'e washer '25 to -tall on the projections 21 andbehind the 1 shoulders 22 thereon and then, by "means of haniile 2 1,screw the nut 26 -down onthe boltgmeanwhile 'keeping'the "U shaped lockelement 29 raised zso as-not to strike the jaw plate i -and -continue toscrew nut 26 "down on the bolt 23 until tithe pole has been clampedfirmly and =tigfitly between the stationary j aw portions J4 -and' l 2and the movable jaw-'portion l l with the prongs 15, f5 and *2!) of the"jaw "members biting lin'to the pole. If the handle 21 is stopped iinposition over "and parallel with the upper edge of 'jaw plate fll "andthe locking =lemerit .29 is 'ithen released the locking elementwill-faIl into stradidling pos'ition over the==top of j-aw plate 1 1 andthe nut "2 6-"will be locked against 'becoming -loos ened on the bolt23. Thepol'e dfl willsthus tightly and 'securely a-nchored to 'Lthetowing hitch j andf'to the towing vhi'le on "which hitch is mounted"and, at the same ti-me, iswivel movement or the "hitch and "the pole:relatiuly 'to the "towing v'ehic'zle *is provided i or.

ITo "release the *pole' from the hitch :onl necessary to raise thelock'mg *elemezit 9 outset abutting *relation to the sides 0f the -jaw-plate fl andtonnscrew "the nut 2 6 on the bolt 23 smiiciently to permitthe washer '25- to 'be-"raised above 'theshoulder 22- an'd then swingthe-knelt "23 out 'from 'between the projections '21. leavesfjaw'platel'l-freeto be=mov ed upwardlyout of engagement with the pole "and thepole free 'jtobe lifted'joutof engagement with -the stationary jawplates! land-l2. I

The hitch "may *be "easily "and quickly dismounted "from "the towingvehicle -=by" merl-y :removing the lockin'gpin from -'-tl'x'e'=-bolt 30,unscrewing the nut- 3| *from the holt and lifting the'hitch from-thevehicle. I

Figure 1 the rearend of thepole lflis shown as being supported on awheeled trailer truckll.

A towinghitchmonstructed in accordance with 'the'un'derside of 'thesupport'35*an'd then pl'ac- "'75 this'inve ntion exceptionally wellsuitedtosewe as a towing accessory of a power service truck. However, itis to be understood that the towing hitch of this invention is adaptedto uses other than the towing of power poles and is adapted to use inother environments, such, for instance, as for the towing of trailers orother towable structures, the :only requirement beingthat what is to betowed is provided with something that may be properlyengaged between.the stationary jaw membersll and I2. andlthe movable jaw member I'I.

It is to be understood that all matter contained in the abovedescription or shown inthe accom-v panying drawings be interpreted asillustrative and not in a limiting sense.

That which is claimed, as new, is:

1. A towing hitch of the character described including, in combination,a base, a stationary jaw mounted on said base, a movable jawcomplementary to the stationary jaw and pivoted thereon to be swingableto and from jaw closing position with respect to the stationary jaw,said movable jaw having a formation presenting a projecting open notchand upwardly extending shoulders adjacent the open end of the notch, abolt pivotally mounted on said base so as to be swingable into and outof said notch, the portion of the bolt-disposable in the notch beingthreaded, and aunt on the bolt adapted when the bolt is disposed in thenotch to be above said notch formation and to the rear of said shouldersthereof and adapted to be screwed down on the bolt to force the movablejaw in jaw closing direction and cause a tow element between the jaws tobe clamped between them.

2. A towing'hitch of the character described including, in combination,a base, a stationary jaw mounted on said base, a movable jawcomplementary to the stationary jaw and pivoted thereon to be swingableto and from jaw closing position with respect to the stationary jaw,said jaws having cooperating tow engaging surfaces facing each other anda prong extending from each of said surfaces in position to engage a towelement disposed between the jaws, said movable jaw having a formationpresenting a projecting open'notch and upwardly extending shouldersadjacent the open end of the notch, a bolt pivotally mounted on saidbase so as to be swing-v able into and out of saidnotch, the portion ofthe bolt disposable in the notch being threaded, a washer on the boltadapted when the bolt is disposed in the notch to seat on said notchformation and behind the said shoulders thereof, and a nut on the boltadapted to be screwed down thereon to force the movable jaw in jawclosing direction and cause a tow element between the jaws to be clampedbetween them.

3. A towing hitch of the' character described including, in combination,a base, a pair of spaced parallel stationary jaw plates extendingupwardly from said base, a movable jaw plate pivoted on and between saidstationary jaw plates to be swingable to and from jaw closing positionwith respect to thestationary jaw plates, and a jaw closing deviceconnected to said base and engageable with the movable jaw and operableto force the movable jaw against a tow element positioned between saidjaws to clamp said tow'element between said jaws, saidtdevice beingdisengageable from the movable jaw to permit the movable jaw to be swungout of engagement with the tow element to release the tow element and topermit the towv element to be disengaged from the hitch.

4,;A- towing hitchof the character described including, incombination, abase, a pair of spaced parallel stationary jaw plates extending upwardlyfrom saidbase having aligned tow en gaging surfaces at their upperedges, amovable jaw. plate pivoted on and between said stationary jaw.plates.to be swingable to and from jaw closing position with respect tothe stationary jaw plates -andvhaving a tow engaging surface at itslower edge in cooperating relation to the tow engaging surfaces, of saidstationary jaw plates and a..jaw closingdevice connectedto said base andengageable with the movable jaw and oper able to force the; movable jawagainst atow ele-, ment positioned between said jaws to clamp said towvelement between said jaws, said device being disengageable from themovable jaw to permit the movable jaw to be swung out of engagement withthe tow element to release the tow element and to permit the tow elementto be disengaged from the hitch. v V

5. A towing hitch of the character described including, in combination,a base, a pair of spaced parallel stationary jaw plates extendingupwardly from said base and having aligned. tow engaging surfaces attheir upper edges, a movable jaw plate pivoted on andbetween saidstationary jaw plates to be swingable to and from jaw closing positionwith respect to the stationary jaw plates and having a tow engagingsurface at its lower edge in cooperating relation to the tow engagingsur-:: faces of said stationary jaw plates, each of said stationary jaw;plates having a tow engaging prongextending upwardly from its towengaging surface and said movable jaw plate having a tow engaging prongextending downwardly from its tow engaging surface, and a jaw closingdevice connected to said base and engageable with the movable jaw andoperable to force the movable jaw against a tow element positionedbetween said jaws to clamp said tow element between said jaws, saiddevice being disengageable from the movable jaw to permit the movablejaw to be swung out of engagement with the tow element to release thetow element and to permit the tow element to be disengaged from thehitch.

6. A towing hitch of the character described including, in combination,a base, a pair of spaced parallel stationary jaw plates extendingupwardly from said base and having aligned tow engaging surfaces attheir upper edges, a movable jaw plate pivoted on and between saidstationary jaw plates to be swingable to and from jaw closing positionwith respect. to the stationary jaw plates, said movable jaw having aformation presenting a projecting open notch and upwardly extendingshoulders adjacent the open end of the notch, a bolt pivotally mountedon said base so as to be swingable into and out of said notch, theportion of the bolt disposable in the notch being threaded, a washer onthe bolt adapted when the bolt is disposed in the notch to seat on saidnotch formation and behind the said shoulders thereof, and a nut onthebolt adapted to be screwed down thereon to force the movable jaw in jawclosing direction and cause a tow element between the jaws to be clampedbetween them.

7. .A towing hitch of the character described including, in combination,a base, a pair of spaced parallel stationary jaw plates extendingupwardly from said base and having aligned tow engaging surfaces attheir upper edges, a movable jaw plate pivoted on and between saidstationary jaw plates to be swingable to and from jaw closing positionwith respect to the stationary jaw plates, said thereon to force themovable jaw jaw el'osmg direction and sense a tow element between theiawsfito be clamped between them,.-and a swivel mounting for the hitch,said mounting :eompziis- 'ingla threaded swivel ipin extendhrgdownwardly from the underside -'of the base at and having atransverse'aperture rior a locking a not adapted to :be ithread'ed onthe in to :be above :said aperture :and *a locking pin disposed through"-said aperture whereby the :nut is prevented from coming ofi of thebolt.

8. A towing hitch of the character described including, :in combination,a base, -:a pair :of spaced-parallel stationary 'jaw :plates extendingupwardly from said base iand having aligned towfengaging surfaces attheir upper edges, fa movable jaw plate mivoted on and between saidstationaryjaw plates to be swingable to and from iawclosing "postionwith respect to the stationary ia'aw ml-atespsaid movable jaw having aformation presentinga proj ectingopenfnotch and upwardlygexten'din'gshoulders "adjacent the open end of'the notch, avbolt p'ivotally mountedon said base .so as -tc "be swingable into and :out of said :notch, theportion :of the bolt disposable in the notch being threaded, a washer onthe bolt adapted when the bolt is disposed in the notch toseat on' sai'dnotch formation and behind the said shoulders thereof, and a nut .on the"bolt adapted to be screwed down thereon to force 7 the movable jaw injaw closing direction and cause-a tow element-between the jaws to beclampedbctween them, and :a swivel mounting for the :hitch,saidmountingnompris'ing athrrea'ded swivel pin extending downwardly fromthe under side f the base at its center and having a transverseapertureifor a locking pin, a .nut adapted to be threaded on the pin toabove saidaperture and a locking 'pin disposed. through said aperturewhereby :the:nut is prevented from coming ofi of the :bolt, said lockingpin a swinging \end1portionadapted to ifa'll by gravity into-e positiontransverse tothe axis or the pin preventing inadvertent displacement ofthe 1pm fromsaidaperture. a a

r. A towing hi'tch :of the character ldescrib'ed including, incombination, a base, a zp'air of spaced-marallel stationary jaw platesextending upwardly 'fromsaid base :and having zaligned.

tow engaging surfaces at their upper edges, a movable jaw plate pivotedon and between said stationary jaw plates to be swingable ;to and fromjaw closing position with respect to the stationary jaw plates, andihavingia tow engaging surface at its lower edge in cooperating relationto the tow engaging surfaces ."of said .stationary flaw *plates, each ofsaid :sta'tionar-y 'j'aw plates having a towengaging prong "extendingupwardly from its tow engaging suvface 'and s'ai'd movable jaw platehaving a tow engaging prong extending downwardly from its tow engagingsurface, said movable jaw having a formation presenting a projectingopen 'notchand upward-iv the notch, a "bolt nivotally mounted on saidbase amines jaw in'jaw m'losingrdiredtion and :cause :a tow,elenremitzbetween the :iaws to ibeaclamped between them, :a :swivel)mounting for the hitch, said mounting comprising a threaded swivel'pinr-extendmg xiowdlwardly irommhe under :side of the base at itsreenter and :hazving a transverse eapier i ture a slacking L a dustadapted to be threaded on the pin to he above said :aperture and alocking pin disposed through said-aperture whereby the mat :preventedrooming od of the :bdlt, :said locking pinrhaving a swinging end portionadapted to fall 'byigravity into a position tramsverscito the axis (ofthe pin preventing in advertentdisplacementof the pin 'fromsaid'aperture. e 10. A towing 10f the character described including, incombination, .=a base, a stationary jaw mountednn said rbase,=akmovableijaw -comple-. mentary to thestationarysjawand pivoted thereonto the swingable :to and from ij'a'w :closing -posi-' tion .TWiiih.respecti to: the istationaun, Iiawt, said movable dawwhaving-iadorma-tion presenting a portion and a locking device mounted on thehandleiportionand-engageable the movable jaw when-the handleportion .isin-alignment the jaw ,ipreventing the turning of the handleportionlandinut enthe-bolt.

511. .A towing hitch of the character described including, incombination, a base, a stationary giawimourited onsaidibase.iaemoyablevjaw con pla mentarytorthe stationaryjaw and pivotedthereon to be swingabie zto and tromyj aw closing ;posi,- tionwithrrespect to the stationarmi aw, saidmov- I able jaw .havingadormation qaresentmg -a orse jecting open :notch and upwardly extendingshoulders adiacenflthe open end of the notch, a bolt ipi-votally mountedon said base so :as to be swingable :into and out of said notch; theportion of the-bolt {disposable in the notch being threaded, and a nut\on *the bolt adapted when the boltfis disposedin the metchuto be abovesaid notch formation and adapted to be screwed down on thebolttoiforcetheimovable jawizn jaw closing direction and cause a tow elementbetween the jaws to be clamped between them, said nut having :a rfixedlaterally extending handle :por: tion and a -.U -shaped docking member:swingingly mountedrin inverted positionionsaid handle 4301 'tion'andadapted tostraddle'thetopbf the mov able iaw when the jiandlegportion isin alignment thereover and zpreventzthe turning of the :handleportionzand nutarelativelyrtoithelbolt,:saidilocking member'rbeingIma'nu'ally maisable out of engagement with the movable saw nermittingturning o'ftheihemdleandmutnn'thefloolt.

12'. A towing hitch of the character described,

including, in combination, a base, a pair of spaced parallel stationaryjaw plates extending upwardly from said base and having aligned towengaging surfaces at their upper edges, a movable jaw plate pivoted onand between said stationary jaw plates to be swingable to and from jawclosing position with respect to the stationary jaw plates and having atow engaging surface at-its lower edge in cooperating relation to thetow engaging surfaces of said stationary jaw plates, each of saidstationary jaw plates having a tow engaging prong extending upwardlyfrom its tow engaging surface and said movable jaw plate having a towengaging prong extending downwardly from its tow engaging surface, saidmovable jaw having a formation presenting a projecting open notch andupwardly extending shoulders adjacent the open end of the notch, a boltpivotally mounted on said base so as to be swingable into and out ofsaid notch, the portion of the bolt disposable in the notch beingthreaded, a washer on the bolt adapted when the bolt is disposed in thenotch to seat on said notch formation and behind the said shouldersthereof, and a nut on the bolt adapted to be screwed down thereon toforc the movable jaw in jawclosing 10 direction and cause a tow elementbetween the jaws to be clamped between them, said nut having a fixedlaterally extending handle portion and a U-shaped locking memberswingingly mounted in inverted position on said handle portion andadapted to straddle the top of the movable jaw when the handle portionis in alignment thereover and prevent the turning of the handle portionand nut relatively to the bolt, said locking member being manuallyraisable out of engagement with the movable jaw permitting turning ofthe handle and nut on the bolt.

ALBERT J. BOIVIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,539,943 Greve Dec. 2, 19251,760,130 Forrest May 27, 1930 2,139,970 Moore Dec. 13, 1938 2,361,362Altgelt Oct. 31, 1944

